How wide?

[okcaveman]

Should I make the limbs on a (hopefully) 70" 55# osage longbow, at least thats the target. I am needing help on the proper dimensions to rough it out to. Any help is appreciated

[PEARL DRUMS]

First question is why 70" long? Is it for a 30" plus draw?

[okcaveman]

I have a 29 inch draw. Figured I would shoot for 70 and that would give me an inch or 2 leeway on the nocks.

[Aznboi3644]

With it being 70" lo tong I'd try to get the tips as narrow as possible...Like 1/4".  If red oak can handle it with ease osage should take it no problem.

[Adam Keiper]

Stiff or bending handle?  The last 70" osage bow I made was a working handled ELB, at 1-1/8" wide, that draws 88# @ 30".  Turned out solid.  I've put alot of arrows through that one from "war bow" draw and my "normal" draw.
 

The next closest/recent was a 68" stiff handled radiused bellied "flatbow" that drew mig-high 50s at 29".  I made that one 1-3/8" or 1-1/2" wide for a friend, wanting it a touch overbuilt since he has a fast snapdraw and normally shoots glass bows.  That one held some decent reflex.
 

...just to get you in the ballpark.

[okcaveman]

I was thinking a ridgid handle. I figure that would be easier for a first build. But am not set in stone on that. So 1 1/8- 1 1/2 depending on style of handle?

Btw thats  good looking bows

[Adam Keiper]

Actually, working handled bows are easier to build, IMO, especially "long" bows.   But by all means, build whichever you like.  Best of luck!    

[okie64]

I built a 70" osage bow with 10" of stiff handle awhile back. Its 1 1/8" wide out to midlimb and then tapers to 1/2" nocks. I made it that long partly because it has a lot of wormholes in it that I was kinda worried about. I like longer bows anyways though.

[okcaveman]

Hey thanks Jamey, thats kind of what I was wanting right there. This stave has several small knots that are not to much trouble, I think I am working them correctly, but it also has a 3 inch check, I think is the proper term, where the ring seems to dip back into the stave, and the surrounding wood seems much denser. I am trying to decide now if I will be able to bypass it or not.